Spectra Energy launched a new YouTube video series, “Natural Gas: Energy for Life,” that gives an overview of natural gas and how it benefits everyone’s lives.

Developed as a four-part series, the first video focuses on the economic, environmental and energy security benefits of natural gas. The series is designed to give a fun, visually appealing look at facts about natural gas that may not be readily apparent or understood. The videos will also demonstrate how we all have a stake in our energy future.

The next video in the “Energy for Life” series will be introduced in February 2012 and expand on the jobs/economic benefits provided by natural gas. The remaining two videos – slated to launch in April and June 2012– will focus in greater depth on the environmental and energy security benefits.

You can also watch the video on YouTube. Be sure to check out their YouTube channel. Lots of good stuff there.

The video is part of a package of videos designed to reinforce the positive attributes of natural gas appliances. Several utilities redesigned their websites to incorporate these videos. ESC has an extensive library to choose from. You can find more of their work here.

Thanks also to the volunteer member committee that watched an absolute ton of video to get us to our group of finalists.

Submissions for the next natural gas video award are being accepted until December 31, 2011. Visit this link to submit your video.

On the economy and the positive economic impact that natural gas has brought to many communities: “There’s really only one good news story out there, and that’s natural gas.”

On renewables: “If you have a growing economy, this doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. The pie is going to get larger. Consumer demand is going to increase. I think a lot of their concern, or their opposition, is a little less about the risk of the actual production [of natural gas] than it is the potential disadvantage that renewables have from a cost standpoint.”

On natural gas vehicles: “You can’t meet some of the fuel-economy requirements without natural gas. It’s a must.”

On strategic thinking, one I’ve heard him say before, and as a communications professional I agree with: “We’re losing our capacity to think strategically. [I]t’s all short term. It’s all instantaneous. As an industry, we’re just asking government to take a little bit longer of an approach like we do and help us make decisions that can endure.”

You can read the full story over at the Washington Times. You can also watch the video below or on YouTube.




You can watch the “making of” video below to see the time and energy that went into the shoot. I enjoy watching the director’s face light up as he talks about the creative concept for the film. In his words:

• The story is simple, visualize the warmth of natural gas by wool.

There was a month of preparation just gearing up for the shoot. The shoot itself took 4 days and night to shoot, with a professional crew of more than 40 people. They used both live and stopmotion with 4 different cameras. It’s amazing the amount of detail that went into the video and I enjoy seeing all the positive energy in the “making of” segment below.

The finalists appear below. The text in the poll links to the video on YouTube and each video is embedded after the poll. Vote for your favorite. You can only vote once per day. Voting closes September 2. Polls are now open. It’s not too early to get started for next year either. If you have a video you want to submit, just send an email to me at dgibson@aga.org

Quality of life

Smell natural gas

Gas conversion 3%

Safety rap

Heating

Old water heater

If you decide to stop by the Natural Gas and Propane Industries booth, you may run into Carter Oosterhouse, host of HGTVs Carter Can, a regular contributor to the Rachael RayRay Show and the spokesperson for the Council for Responsible Energy. Carter’s a big fan of natural gas appliances. He was actually on Fox News today (see video below) talking about them and some other great energy saving tips. Here’s what he said about natural gas appliances:

Natural Gas Water Heating:

• Heats water up to twice as fast and ensures comfort even during a power outage.
• More than 50% reduction in carbon emissions.
• Among the many types of water heaters on the market, some models – such as highly efficient gas storage water heaters, heat pumps, solar water heaters and tankless water heaters – are up to 50 percent more efficient than traditional gas storage water heaters.
• Energy Star qualified tankless water heaters will save an average of more than $40 per year for each person in your household, compared to a conventional gas model.Fuel costs will continue to creep up, making it all the more practical to think about a long-term strategy for saving energy and money on your next water heater.
• Tankless water heaters have a 20 year shelf life.

Natural Gas Clothes Drying:

• More than 50% reduction in carbon emissions
• Clothes are dry in nearly half the time

Natural Gas Cooking:

• Style and performance upgrade for heart of your home.
• Precision control preferred by 96% of professional chefs.

Let us know if you’re at the IBS show in the comments.




Carter Oosterhouse talks responsible energy: MyFoxORLANDO.com

The questions include:

• Where can we find natural gas?
• How do you use natural gas?
• What’s good about natural gas?
• Why should we use more natural gas?

As you can guess, there are a wide variety of answers. There are the usual ones you’d expect (the first thirty seconds are great…I know I shouldn’t laugh at these but there is something hysterical about a small child saying natural gas is what comes out of people’s butts) but there are quite a few good answers as well. Don’t worry, Spectra does a great job of providing answers on the harder questions for the kids.

• Natural gas is found in rock formations — deep in the ground and under the ocean
• Natural gas is used to heat homes, cook food, generate electricity and more
• Natural gas is clean, abundant, reliable and efficient.
• More natural gas means cleaner environment, more jobs for the economy and better energy security

The video shows a lot of vision to me. It’s a great way to educate children on the reality of natural gas. You can watch the video below and leave a comment to let us know what you think. Be sure to visit the Spectra Energy YouTube channel for more videos. They’re doing great work.